Top UN peacekeeping official pushes for endorsement of DR Congo political accord
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 11 January 2017 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, Top UN peacekeeping official pushes for endorsement of DR Congo political accord, 11 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58777c82412.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
11 January 2017 - Addressing the Security Council, the head of United Nations peacekeeping operations today urged the international community to push for a swift endorsement of the so-called 31 December political accord in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to put in place a transitional government of national unity.
"The signing of the 31 December accord gives hope for a peaceful resolution of the political impasse," the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, told the 15-member Council.
He warned that failure to sign the agreement - facilitated by Conférence Episcopale Nationale du Congo (CENCO) mediators, and reached in DRC's capital, Kinshasa, on 31 December 2016 - could delay elections and increase the risk of renewed political crisis and increased violence in the country.
"Regional and international actors should maintain strong support for the implementation of the accord and the holding of elections, as soon as feasible," Mr. Ladsous said.
The accord builds on an initial political agreement between part of the opposition and the majorité présidentielle reached in October under the auspices of the African Union facilitation. It aims for a peacefully managed transition consistent with the democratic principles enshrined in the country's Constitution.
